Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup

Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup

Much as I enjoy a blue fillet steak or a bacon sandwich, there are times when it feels good to lay off the meat and enjoy meals without. This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavour though. Hot and Sour Soup is perfect for days like these. Filling, warming, and full of exciting flavours. If you want to add cooked chicken or prawns though, go ahead. Extra vegetables? Go for it!

This version was inspired by a recipe from a much used and favoured cookbook, Gok Cooks Chinese. Although my predictive text called him God. He’s good, but not quite THAT good!

Optional 2 heaped teaspoons of cornflour dissolved in a little cold water

2 eggs, beaten

Finely chopped spring onion or chives to serve

Bring the stock to a gentle boil and add the carrot. Simmer for about 5 minutes then add all the ingredients except the cornflour, vinegar, egg and spring onion.

Simmer for about 10 minutes then gradually add the vinegar, tasting as you go until it reaches a level of sourness you enjoy.

If you prefer a slightly thickened soup, add two heaped teaspoons of cornflour to about 50mls of cold water and add to the simmering soup. Allow to thicken (this will take a minute or two).

Turn off the heat and add the egg, whisking as you do to create fine ribbons of cooked egg. Serve garnished with the finely sliced spring onion and marvel that it was quicker to prepare than ordering and waiting for a takeaway delivery.

(For a gluten free option use tamari instead of soy sauce and omit the cornflour).

There must be oriental soup in the air. I watched Anthony Bourdain last night, teaching ex President Obama how to slurp spicy soup noodles in Hanoi and Rosemary posted Udon Noodle Curry just a few hours ago. I’m going to have to find that DVD of Tampopo!
Your soup sounds perfect for a cold winter’s day 😉

Oh Mad, please! Obama is not an ‘ex’ for another two months, thank the blessed Lord! Spare us the carwreck for just the moment , and that means the world, not just the US . . . you have been dealing with Brexit for the last few – may I assure you Down Under is far more shocked by this idiocy to the core of what came to pass at the moment . . .

I order hot and sour soup every time I go to a Chinese restaurant and love it. The funny thing is that it makes my hiccup every time I take a swallow. Even though I know that, I keep ordering it and I know that I would enjoy yours…please excuse the hiccups. 😀

Your timing with this soup couldn’t be better, Tanya. Our weather is turning much colder this weekend and I’ve made 2 batches of stock in preparation. Soon, very soon, there will be a pot of your hot and sour soup on the stovetop. Bring on the cold! i’m ready! 🙂

So in 2016 I turned 50. I was in Italy for my 21st, 30th and 40th. To keep this birthday tradition going I always knew I'd be in Italy for my 50! This blog starts with my 5 week adventure in Puglia but my love affair with Italy continues.....